Scherzer remains unbeaten as Tigers edge Royals

Victor Martinez's tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning vaulted Max Scherzer to his ninth victory and the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 decision over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

Kansas City managed just three hits against the unbeaten Scherzer (9-0), who
matched the longest win streak to begin a season by a Tigers starter since at
least 1916, but the Royals still had a chance in the ninth.

Salvador Perez reached with a leadoff single and pinch-runner Elliot Johnson
swiped second, but Jose Valverde struck out Billy Butler, who got ejected
afterward for arguing, and then recorded the final two outs to notch his ninth
save.

"I didn't think it was close and it got called," said Butler. "When I looked
at the replay it was even worse than I thought it was."

Scherzer joined Vern Kennedy (1938) and George Uhle (1929) as the only Detroit
starters to win their first nine decisions. He gave up two runs, struck out
six and walked a pair over a strong seven-inning outing.

"Yeah, I've put myself in a position (to pick up a win)," said Scherzer. "My
offense has bailed me out a few times. Sometimes when you look at win-loss
records, I'm on a great offensive team. It's just a flukey stat."

Miguel Cabrera was struck with a pitch by Aaron Crow (2-2) to begin the top of
the eighth and by scoring the go-ahead run later in the frame, the Tigers
snapped Kansas City's season-best six-game win streak.

Andy Dirks and Don Kelly each collected an RBI for the Tigers, winners in five
of their last six games.

Wade Davis turned in his longest outing in 10 starts, tossing 6 2/3 innings of
two-run ball on eight hits while striking out five. He earned a no decision
and is winless in nine of his last 10 outings.

Scherzer didn't allow a hit through the first four innings, but after a bumpy
fifth he returned to dominance by retiring the last seven batters he faced.
Detroit then put him in position for the win in the eighth.

After Cabrera was hit by a pitch, he moved to third on Prince Fielder's base
hit into right. Martinez then lifted a fly ball into left and Cabrera easily
scored to break the 2-2 tie.

The Tigers got their third hit and a 1-0 lead in the second on Kelly's soft
liner down the third-base line. Martinez scored and Omar Infante attempted to
from first on the play, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Dirks doubled Detroit's edge with a groundout in the fifth, but the Royals
finally touched up Scherzer in the bottom half.

David Lough began the inning with his first career homer and Mike Moustakas
followed with a single. Chris Getz bumped him over with a sac bunt and Alcides
Escobar drove him in for a 2-2 game, although was thrown out trying to stretch
his hit into a double.

The Royals, though, managed only two singles over the final four innings of
play.

Game Notes

Scherzer is 4-0 in six career starts against Kansas City ... Infante had three
hits for Detroit ... Kansas City went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position
... The Royals were going for their longest winning streak since a seven-game
run from Sept. 10-17, 2011.